Irish Nationalist Party

The Irish Nationalist Party was a liberal and nationalist party in Ireland that existed from 1874 to 1922. The party was founded by home rule advocate Isaac Butt, and the party was divided between the radical Charles Stewart Parnell and the liberal William Shaw. In 1880, Parnell became the party leader, forming the Irish Parliamentary Party in 1882. The Parliamentary Party was still referred to as the "Nationalist Party" by many of its supporters, and it advocated home rule in Ireland, opposing the Irish Unionist Alliance and the conservative, pro-British parties.